Boy found in Vaughan: Amber Alert ends thanks to 'sharp-eyed citizen'

MISSISSAUGA — A “sharp-eyed citizen” in York Region led to police finding an eight-year-old boy who was allegedly abducted by his mother in Mississauga Valley Sunday.

“Our citizens are fabulous,” said an ecstatic Peel Regional Police Cst. Fiona Thivierge this afternoon, happy the boy was found safe. “A citizen was able to recognized the vehicle and licence plate.”

She said thanks to the Amber Alert and police plea for help, a quick-thinking citizen in Vaughan noticed eight-year-old Matthew Zhang, who was last seen Sunday morning when his father dropped him off at his mother’s residence in Mississauga Valley.

The citizen phoned 9-1-1.

The boy was found with his mother, Wei Chen, whom officers believe fled the jurisdiction with her son. Police say Chen doesn’t have custody of the boy, and wasn’t able to take proper care of him.

Police are interviewing the boy’s mother and haven’t decided whether charges will be laid.